Mini Mac 2018 Help

[Andyjames1985]

Hello I have just ordered a Mini Mac, 2018 128gb. I currently use a hackintosh and have decided that I wanted a real apple to match iPhone and iPad. The issue is I don’t have new displays 2 are hdmi and one is VGA can I hook these up.

I am thinking connect

1 via hdmi
Type c to HDMI
the other can I get type c to vga ?

Will the mini Mac preform ok i3 8gb for spreed sheet and day to day stuff

 

[joevt]

One display needs to be connected to the HDMI 2.0 port of the Mac mini 2018. The other two displays can be connected to any one or two Thunderbolt 3 ports using a USB-C adapter or cable. There are many adapters for USB-C to HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort. VGA is usually limited to 1920x1200 (if you want more than that then you might need a patch, depending on the adapter you have).

8 GB should be ok. You can always add more later, up to 64 GB.

 

[Andyjames1985]

Will any adaptor work

 

[joevt]

Will any adaptor work

I don't know of an adapter that won't work. But it's best to be specific.

 

[Andyjames1985]

I have a HP one from work it’s a USB C DOCK G4

 

[joevt]

I have a HP one from work it’s a USB C DOCK G4

That appears to be a USB-C dock (not Thunderbolt) with built-in DisplayPort 1.2 MST hub for multiple displays. macOS does not support MST for multiple displays, therefore you'll only be able to connect a single display to this. The dock supports USB 3.x which means it only has two DisplayPort lanes (instead of 4) so the single display will be limited to 4K 30Hz or 1440p 60Hz.

You can connect two displays to a single Thunderbolt port using a Thunderbolt dock or a Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort adapter. Otherwise you'll need to use two Thunderbolt ports with a USB-C adapter or cable for each.

 

[Andyjames1985]

Thanks, I currently only have basic 1080p monitors two of these are HDMI and one of them is VGA. I plan to only connect to and leave the VGA for now or I may connect to via USB see to HDMI is via the two ports on the back of the Mac. And maybe I could connect the vga via the hdmi for now until I get 2 4K screen. On a separate note we really notice a difference with a 4K screen over normal 1080p

Could I use two of the photos below and just one HDMI to the monitors and that would be okay

 

[Boyd01]

Will the mini Mac preform ok i3 8gb for spreed sheet and day to day stuff

I suspect you will be OK, but keep in mind that the integrated graphics use 1.5gb of system memory which means you only have 6.5gb available for other things. Since MacOS uses virtual memory, when the physical RAM is not adequate then data is "swapped" to the SSD. Now, the SSD is really fast in the 2018 Mini which minimizes this problem, however it also gets hot when accessed heavily. And when the computer gets hot, the processor slows down. This can cause some performance issues that users have described as "lag".

The general consensus has been that 16gb is better, but you will just have to try and see how much of a real-world issue this is for you. For light usage, it may not be a problem.

 

[Andyjames1985]

What’s the best way for the connection of displayed one thunder bolt port to hdmi per screen or share 1 I plan to extend now mirror

 

[joevt]

What’s the best way for the connection of displayed one thunder bolt port to hdmi per screen or share 1 I plan to extend now mirror

Thunderbolt adapter for dual displays is expensive ($90) so maybe choose two USB-C adapters - but if you are only connecting two displays, then connect one to HDMI 2.0 port of Mac mini and the other to that 8£ USB-C to HDMI adapter connected to Thunderbolt port of Mac mini.